Vallejo July Fourth parade brings crowd to city streets

Patriotism was the theme Friday morning as rows of people lined the streets of Vallejo, many waving American flags, as they watched the annual Independence Day parade.

The 161st annual parade featured a wide variety of contingents that began at Broadway and Tennessee and ended on Georgia Street, near the waterfront.

Parents brought their children out to cheer and enjoy the festivities from the sidewalks.

Roger Vaughn said he's always attended the parade with his four children, ages 7 to 11, who were cheering and waving at the passing groups and performers in the parade.

"I like to support the positive things in Vallejo," Vaughn said.

He also added that Independence Day to him means spending time with his family and loved ones, "and a good barbecue."

The parade began with a motorcade of Vallejo police officers, followed by the members of Vallejo's Veterans of Foreign War 1123.

"July Fourth is to celebrate my father's sacrifice in World War II and the other guys who never came back," Gary Smith said. Smith served in the U.S. Navy for 23 years.

"It's for us to remember to continue honoring and maintaining this country's principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," Smith said.

This year's parade also honored a late and prominent community member. Vallejo Music Theater icon Judith Brown was named as Honorary Grand Marshal of the parade. Brown died on June 28 at age 80 after succumbing to cancer.

The crowd was also treated to an additional bonus at the end of the parade, as a group of organizations and community members came together to resurrect the Bathtub Regatta, which had a one-year hiatus.

The event took place at the waterfront featuring two floating "bathtubs" and about 10 kayaks from Kayaking Vallejo parading in the Mare Island Strait.

"There wasn't the support before," Mad Hatter Festival founder Frank Malifrando said. "But we got all the groups together, and we got it going."

Malifrando said he wanted to start it off with a smaller event to see the interest from the community.

"This is great, this crowd shows that we could attract more people," he said, looking around at about 100 people gathered at the waterfront near The Front Room restaurant.

The goal is to have a waterfront celebration after the festival that coincides with the Bathtub Regatta, Malifrando added.

Neighboring American Canyon also held its July Fourth parade Friday morning.